Numbers 31:22

KJV

Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,

KJV (with Strong's)

Only the gold {H2091}, and the silver {H3701}, the brass {H5178}, the iron {H1270}, the tin {H913}, and the lead {H5777},

Complete Jewish Bible

Even though gold, silver, brass, iron, tin and lead

Berean Standard Bible

Only the gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, and lead—

American Standard Version

howbeit the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 31:22 is a pivotal verse within the purification laws following Israel's victory over Midian, specifically enumerating the metallic spoils—gold, silver, brass, iron, tin, and lead—that survived the battle and required a distinct ritual cleansing process. This instruction underscores God's meticulous concern for holiness within the Israelite camp, extending even to inanimate objects acquired from a pagan source, ensuring that all elements brought into the community conformed to His divine standards of purity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 31:22 is embedded within the detailed instructions for purifying the spoils of war taken from the Midianites, following a divinely commanded act of vengeance. The preceding verses ([Numbers 31:1-12](/numbers/31-1 "Numbers 31:1-12 - Vengeance on Midian")) describe the successful military campaign, initiated by God's command to Moses as retribution for Midian's role in the Baal-Peor incident ([Numbers 25:1-9](/numbers/25-1 "Numbers 25:1-9 - The Sin at Baal-Peor")). Upon the army's return, Moses, displeased with their failure to utterly destroy the Midianite women who had enticed Israel, issues further commands for purification and elimination ([Numbers 31:13-19](/numbers/31-13 "Numbers 31:13-19 - Moses' Anger and Further Commands")). Verse 20 begins the specific purification protocols for captured items, distinguishing between various materials. Verse 22 then specifically lists the non-combustible metals, setting the stage for their unique purification method described in the subsequent verse, [Numbers 31:23](/numbers/31-23 "Numbers 31:23 - Purification of Metals by Fire and Water"). This sequence highlights a progression from military victory to ritual restoration, emphasizing the pervasive nature of holiness in Israelite life.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, warfare often resulted in the capture of vast amounts of plunder, including precious metals, livestock, and people. However, for Israel, the handling of such spoils was not merely an economic matter but a theological one. Items acquired from pagan nations, especially those involved in idolatry and sexual immorality like Midian, were considered ritually defiled. The concept of *ṭum'ah* (ritual impurity) was central to Israelite cultic life, necessitating specific purification rites before defiled persons or objects could enter the sacred space of the camp or be used by the community. The metals listed in this verse—gold, silver, brass (copper alloy), iron, tin, and lead—were common materials for tools, weapons, ornaments, and vessels in the ancient world. Their durability and non-combustible nature meant they could not be purified by fire alone in the same way as textiles or wood, requiring a more rigorous process involving both fire and water, as detailed in [Numbers 31:23](/numbers/31-23 "Numbers 31:23 - The Purification Process for Metals"). This meticulousness reflects the unique covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel, where even the spoils of war had to be brought under divine dominion and cleansed.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Numbers and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it powerfully reinforces the theme of **Divine Holiness and Ritual Purity**. God's absolute purity demands that His people, and everything within their camp, maintain a state of ritual cleanness. The meticulous instructions for purifying war spoils underscore that defilement, whether from death, pagan contact, or sin, must be addressed to preserve the sanctity of the community where God dwells. Secondly, the passage highlights **God's Sovereignty and Specificity in Law**. Yahweh is not a distant deity but intimately involved in the minutiae of Israelite life, providing exhaustive laws for every conceivable circumstance, including the handling of war booty. This specificity demonstrates His comprehensive oversight and His concern for the spiritual integrity of His people, ensuring that even materials gained from battle were brought under His dominion and cleansed according to His holy standards. Finally, the verse emphasizes **Material Distinction for Purification**. By explicitly listing these specific metals, the text draws a clear distinction between materials that are combustible and those that are not. This distinction dictates the diverse purification methods required, illustrating that different types of defilement or different material properties necessitate different ritual approaches to achieve cleanness, all under God's precise instruction.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Gold (Hebrew, _zahab'_):** As the most precious and incorruptible of the listed metals, gold often symbolized divine glory, purity, and value in biblical contexts (e.g., the gold of the Ark of the Covenant in [Exodus 25:11](/exodus/25-11 "Exodus 25:11 - Gold for the Ark")). Its inclusion here, alongside less precious but equally durable metals, underscores that even the most valuable items, if acquired from a defiled source, required purification to be acceptable within the holy community. Its inherent resistance to fire also made it a prime candidate for the specific fiery purification process described in the subsequent verse.
* **Lead (Hebrew, _'ophereth'_):** At the other end of the spectrum of value, lead was a common, heavy, and malleable metal used for weights, sinkers, and in construction. Its inclusion in this list demonstrates the comprehensive nature of the purification command: it was not just the precious items that needed cleansing, but *all* non-combustible metals, regardless of their intrinsic worth. This emphasizes that defilement was not selective based on value but applied universally to anything touched by the unholy, and that God's standards of purity applied to all aspects of the spoils.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Only the gold, and the silver":** This opening phrase immediately narrows the focus from the general "all that may abide the fire" mentioned in [Numbers 31:20](/numbers/31-20 "Numbers 31:20 - Purification of Spoils"). It highlights the most valuable and often ritually significant metals. Their enduring nature meant they could not be simply burned or washed like other spoils; they required a unique, more rigorous purification process to remove any ritual defilement.
* **"the brass, the iron":** These common and essential metals, crucial for tools, weapons, and household items in the ancient world, are grouped together. Their inclusion demonstrates that the purification laws applied not just to luxury items but to the utilitarian and everyday objects that would be integrated into the Israelite camp. Like gold and silver, their metallic properties necessitated a specific method of cleansing due to their resistance to simple destruction by fire.
* **"the tin, and the lead":** These less common but still significant metals complete the comprehensive list. Tin was often alloyed with copper to make bronze (a form of brass), while lead was used for various purposes. Their mention emphasizes the exhaustive nature of the divine command—no metallic item, regardless of its composition or perceived value, was exempt from the purification requirements. This thorough enumeration underscores the principle that anything brought from a pagan context into the holy community must undergo a transformation to align with God's standards.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Numbers 31:22 is **Enumeration**. The verse provides a precise and exhaustive list of six specific metals: gold, silver, brass, iron, tin, and lead. This detailed listing serves to emphasize the comprehensive scope of the purification command, ensuring that no durable metallic item from the Midianite spoils could be overlooked or exempted. The repetitive use of the definite article "the" before each metal ("the gold, and the silver, the brass...") further highlights each item individually, drawing attention to their distinct yet collectively significant nature as materials requiring specific ritual handling. This meticulous cataloging underscores the divine precision and thoroughness inherent in God's laws concerning holiness and ritual purity within the Israelite community, leaving no ambiguity about what needed to be cleansed.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 31:22, by meticulously listing the metals requiring purification, deeply underscores the pervasive nature of God's holiness and the necessity of ritual purity for His people. It reveals that defilement is not merely a spiritual or moral state but can attach itself to physical objects, particularly those originating from pagan contexts. The divine command to cleanse these metals before they could be integrated into the Israelite camp illustrates that God's standards for holiness extended to every aspect of life, even the spoils of war. This attention to detail speaks to God's desire for a people set apart, where everything within their sphere reflects His purity. It foreshadows a broader theological truth: that anything brought into God's presence, or used for His purposes, must be sanctified and made clean.

* [Leviticus 11:32](/leviticus/11-32 "Purification of Vessels")
* [Hebrews 9:22](/hebrews/9-22 "Without the Shedding of Blood There Is No Forgiveness")
* [1 Peter 1:15-16](/1_peter/1-15-16 "Be Holy, For I Am Holy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific ritual purification of war spoils is not a practice for believers today, the underlying principles of Numbers 31:22 offer profound spiritual lessons for contemporary life. This passage reminds us that God's holiness is absolute and demands a corresponding pursuit of purity in every area of our lives. Just as the metals from Midian needed cleansing from pagan defilement, so too do we, as believers, need continuous spiritual purification from the defilements of the world. This involves discerning what influences, possessions, or practices in our lives might carry "defilement" from ungodly sources and actively seeking to bring them under God's authority and cleansing. It challenges us to consider how we can "purify" our resources, talents, and even our time, dedicating them to God's purposes rather than allowing them to be tainted by worldly values. God's meticulous instructions here assure us that He cares about every detail of our lives, providing guidance for navigating even the most complex situations, and calling us to live set apart for Him, transforming what might be worldly into instruments for His glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "spoils" or influences from the "world" might subtly defile my spiritual walk, and how can I bring them before God for cleansing?**
* **In what areas of my life—my possessions, my entertainment, my relationships—do I need to apply God's standards of holiness more rigorously?**
* **How does God's meticulous attention to detail in Numbers 31:22 encourage me to seek His guidance in seemingly mundane or complex decisions in my own life?**
* **What does it mean practically to "transform the worldly for God's use" in my daily life, and how can I actively pursue this?**

### FAQ

**Why were only these specific metals singled out for a different purification process?**

Answer: The metals listed in [Numbers 31:22](/numbers/31-22 "Numbers 31:22 - The Metals to Be Purified")—gold, silver, brass, iron, tin, and lead—were singled out because of their inherent material properties. Unlike clothing, leather goods, or wooden articles, which could be purified by merely passing through water or fire ([Numbers 31:20](/numbers/31-20 "Numbers 31:20 - Purification of Other Spoils")), these metals are non-combustible and highly durable. Their resistance to complete destruction by fire meant they required a more specific and rigorous purification method. The subsequent verse, [Numbers 31:23](/numbers/31-23 "Numbers 31:23 - Purification of Metals by Fire and Water"), clarifies that these metals were to be passed through *both* fire *and* water. The fire was to burn away any superficial defilement or pagan associations, while the water completed the ritual cleansing, making them ritually pure and fit for use within the holy Israelite community. This distinction highlights God's precise and comprehensive approach to ritual purity, tailored to the nature of the defiled object.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 31:22, with its meticulous instructions for purifying metals from pagan defilement, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament purification rituals, including the passing of objects through fire and water, were shadows pointing to a greater spiritual reality: the need for cleansing from sin and defilement that no mere ritual could fully accomplish. Just as the metals had to be made fit for the holy community, humanity, tainted by sin from birth ([Psalm 51:5](/psalm/51-5 "Psalm 51:5 - Born in Sin")), requires a radical transformation to enter God's presence. Jesus, as the perfect Lamb of God ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, shedding His blood to cleanse us from all sin ([1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - Cleansing by the Blood of Jesus")). His death and resurrection represent the definitive "fire" that consumes the defilement of sin and the "water" of new life and regeneration ([Titus 3:5](/titus/3-5 "Titus 3:5 - Washing of Regeneration")). Through faith in Him, we are not merely ritually cleansed but spiritually purified, made new creations ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")) and brought into the holy presence of God, no longer defiled but sanctified and set apart for His purposes ([Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Sanctified Through the Offering of Jesus Christ")). Thus, the ancient command to purify metals foreshadows the complete and perfect cleansing offered to us by Christ, making us truly holy and acceptable to God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.